Dancing doll



NOV. 22, 1938. J LINCOLN 2,137,575

DANCING I DOLL Filed April 18, 1938 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANCING DOLL John S. Lincoln, Des Moines, Iowa, asslgnor of one-half to Everett 0. Gage, Des Moines,

Iowa.

Application April 18, 1938, Serial No. 202,701

5 Claims.

The object of my'invention is to provide a dancing doll of simple and novel construction. More particularly, it is my purpose to provide a dancing doll of the kind adapted tobe held above a vibrating board or the like, whereby the 'I vibrations of the board are transmitted to the feet ofthe doll to cause the doll to dance.

It is my special object to so construct the doll that the body is in two parts so connected together as to secure a better dancing effect than has heretofore been possible.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my dancing doll, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my dancing doll, there being a fragmentary showing of the manner of operating it.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the doll, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of doll, part of the legs. being broken away.

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another modified form in which, the doll may be embodied; and

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a slightly different form, parts being broken away.

Heretofore jointed dolls have been made and provided with a rearwardly extending somewhat resilient handle or rod, which could be grasped by the person operating the doll. A somewhat resilient board might be then vibrated under the dolls feet to make the doll dance.

In Figural, I have shown at II! a chair on which rests the vibrating board I I. The operator I2 grasps the rod or handlel3 in one hand to hold the doll A with its feet touching the board;

' The other hand is then used to pound and thus straight up through the body will tend to cause the lower part of the body to tilt backwardly and forwardly somewhat as well as up and down.

Preferably I make my doll with the lower part of the body jointed for universal movement (in addition to being tilted rearwardly slightly) and preferably I provide such a connection between the body parts as will tend to yieldingly return the body parts to their normal position with the lower body part tilted rearwardly slightly as per haps best illustrated in Figure 6. 10

One form in which my improved dancing dol may be embodied is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, another form in Figures 4 and 5 and a slightly different form in Figure 6.

I shall first describe the form-of doll shown in Figures 1 to 3. This doll has the body portion I4 forming an upper torso to which are pivoted the arms I5. Above the body portion I4 is a head I6 preferably connected jointedly to the body I4 as by a coil spring H. The lower part of the body is indicated at 3..

In the form of my invention now being described, the body portion I8 is'connected to the body portion I4 in thefollowlng manner:

Secured to the under side of the body portion I4 is a supporting U-shaped bracket I9 with opposite arms 20 extending away from eachother and fastened to the body portion I4.

A thin screw bolt 2I is extended through a hole in the central portion of the bracket I9 as shown in Figure 2. The hole is large enough to allow considerable play of the screw bolt in the bracket. The screw bolt extends down through the body portion I8 and has the nut 22 on its lower end. The legs 23 are jointed to the body portion I8 and are provided with joints 24 at the knees and with feet 25.

As shown here, the body portion I8 hasin its lower part, slots 26 into which the flattened upper ends of the round legs 23 are projected and in which they are pivoted as by the cross pin or pins 21.

A resilient member 28 of rubber or any suitable material is fastened to the back of the body portion I4 and also to the back of the body portion I8 and is under such' tension as to hold the body portion tilted slightly rearwardly from its upper end. It is obvious that the resilient member 28 also tends by its resilience to return the body portion I8 to its normal position if the body portion should be tilted sidewise or twisted rotatably with relation to the body portion I4.

When a doll so constructed is operated, as heretofore explained and as illustrated in Figure l, the vibration of the board II imposes quick of the body is tilted slightly rearwardly as explained.

In dolls-oi this general kind of which I am familiar, the body is in one piece. In my doll, the body is in two pieces and the lower part of the body swings slightly upwardly during the vibration of the board I l and may swing laterally and even twist a little rotatably.

There is thus secured a dancing action, far more natural than can be had with a rigid body.

Since the doll is supported from the upper part of the body by means of the ,wire handle or the like l3, the lower part of the body and the feet tend to hang down and ii the lower part of the body should be twisted a little, the resilient member 28 will tend always to return it to normal position in proper alignment with the upper part of the body.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a doll similar to that already described, except that the joint between the upper and lower part of the body allows the lower part of the body to swing sidewise somewhat with relation to the upper partof the body as shown in Figure 4 and also forwardly and rearwardly somewhat and to twist a little.

The resilient member 28 is not found in the doll of Figures 4 and 5.

In this doll, I have used the reference character I611 to indicate the head supported by the neck l'la on the upper body portion 30. The body portion 30 has arms 15a similar to the arms l5. The body portion 30 has connected with it, the handle l 3a similar to the handle l3 already described.

In the lower part of the body 30 is a'transverse groove 3|. The lower body member 32 has its upper part reduced in thickness as at 33 and received in the groove 3| so as to allow conslderable play.

A pin 34 extends through the body 30 and through a hole 35 in the thin portion 33 of the body part 32. This hole: is large enough to allow play between the parts as illustrated in Figure 5.

The doll shown in Figures 4 and 5 has limited universal movement between the two body parts 30 and 32-. The lower body part may swing sidewise as shown in Figure 4 or forwardly as shown in Figure 5 or rearwardly and can twist slightly. Normally, however, it hangs straight down.

The doll of Figures 4 and 5 has legs 23a similar to the legs 23 already described.

In Figure 6, I have shown a doll with a head 16b and a neck l'lb, an upper body portion 40,

arms 4|, a resilient wire handle 42, lower body portion 43 and legs 44. The lower body portion 43 is secured at its upper end to the lower end of the upper body portion 43 by means of an 8- shaped flat spring 45, which normally holds the to the upper body portion.

body portion 43 tilted rearwardly-somewhat as shown in the drawing.

This lower body portion 43 has forward and rearward swinging movement with relation to the body portion and comparatively limited lateral and twisted swinging movement, depending upon the resilience of the spring 45. It affords, however, a very economical structure to build.

In Figure '7, the upper body member is connected with the lower body member 5| by a coil spring 52 and a tape or the like 53 may be used to prevent undue separation of the body members.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my improvements may be embodied in a variety of forms. For example, rubber may be used in 'place of the members llb or 52.

It is my purpose to cover by my claims any modifications in structure or arrangement 01 parts or use of mechanical equivalents which are reasonably within the scope of my invention and claims.

I claim:

1. In a jointed doll structure, an upper body portion, a lower body portion jointedly connected with the upper body portion for universal movement, and means yieldably connecting the two body portions for holding the lower body portion tilted slightly rearwardlyand permitting universal movement.

2. In a jointed doll structure, an upper body portion, a lower body portion jointedly connected with the upper body portion for universal movement, and' means yieldably connecting the two body portions for holding the lower body.portion tilted slightly rearwardly.

3. In a jointed doll structure, an upper body portion, a lower body portion jointedly connected with the upper bodyportion for universal movement, and means yieldably connecting the two body portions for holding the lower body portion tilted slightly rearwardly and permitting universal movement, said means comprising a resilient flexible member secured to the upper body member and to the lower body member and tensioned to normally hold the lower body member tilted rearwardly.

4. In a jointed doll structure, an upper body portion, a lower body portion jointedly connected with the upper body portion for universal movement, and means yieldably connecting the two body portions for holding the lower body portion tilted slightly rearwardly, said means comprising an S-shaped spring.

. 5. In a-jointeddoll, an upper body portion,-a' lower body portion and means for connecting the body portions togetherfor supporting the lower body portion in. a position tilted with relation to the other body portion, said means being adapted to permit yielding movement of the lower body portion to a variety oiv positions with relation JOHN S. LINCOLN. 

